Cheers for the beers and the AC condensate
1st January 2023
USA: The air conditioning condensate from air conditioners at a major US airport is being used by a local brewery to brew beer.
Captured from the jet bridges used at San Diego International Airport (SAN), the condensate water is being used by the East Village Brewing Company in downtown San Diego to produce two beers.
The captured condensate is purified using reverse osmosis and ozone disinfection and transported to The East Village Brewing Company for its use. With its pure water profile and little mineral content, the condensate water is said to make the reclaimed water an ideal base for brewers.
The East Village Brewing Company has released two beers made with the purified condensate: Hoppy Travels IPA is described as a West Coast IPA with flavours of grapefruit and guava and Pre-Flight Pils is a German-style pilsner with bready and lemon zest flavours.
The beers are currently on tap at The East Village Brewing Company and will be available at San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 2 in the coming weeks.
“We first partnered with the brewers of The East Village Brewing Company in 2019 when they brewed a beer called SAN Test Pilot using the condensate while working at another local brewery,” said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority president and CEO.
“The beer was very successful, selling out almost immediately, and since then we’ve been interested in collaborating again. The East Village Brewing Company’s focus on sustainability aligns with our efforts at the airport and we are happy to have the opportunity to showcase this reclaimed water innovatively with their help.”
“The condensate water is superbly pure and ideal for brewing. Plus, it’s no secret that California is in the midst of a long-term drought, so water reclamation is a creative way to reduce our water footprint here in San Diego,” commented East Village Brewing Company owner Aaron Justus.
